The table is set for the 2009 Pike County Chapter of the American Heart Association’s annual Survivors Breakfast at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church of Troy.

About 170 invitations have been mailed to heart attack and stroke survivors whose names are on the list complied by the local Heart Association.

However, Otis Stone and Jim O’Neal, co-chairs of the annual Survivors Breakfast, said all survivors of heart attacks and strokes are invited to attend.

“We’re sure that we don’t have the names of all the heart attack and stroke survivors on our list but we certainly want all of them to come,” Stone said. “It would be very difficult to get the names of all the survivors because there are so many. So even if you didn’t receive an invitation, you are invited and we want you to come.”

O’Neal said the annual breakfast is also called the Red Cap Breakfast because American Heart Association red caps identify the survivors of heart disease and strokes.

The Red Caps, which are donated by Troy Bank & Trust, are visible signs of the victories that are won over heart disease. Funds raised through the American Heart Association support heart research and promote prevention programs.

The victories over heart disease and stroke are indicators that the dollars donated to the American Heart Association are making a difference.

Dr. Mickey Dichiara of Pike Internal Medicine will be the guest speaker at Saturday’s Survivors Breakfast.

“Dr. Dichiara will speak as both a heart attack survivor and as a member of the medical profession,” Stone said.

“Some may not know that he is a heart attack survivor. There are a lot of people who are heart survivors that we don’t know about.”

A heart-healthy breakfast of whole wheat toast, turkey bacon, grits, cereal and orange juice will be served.

“This will be a time of fellowship and a time to celebrate the victories over heart disease and also a time of encouragement as we continue to safeguard our health,” O’Neal said. “We’ll have information available about heart disease and ways to prevent it.”

The annual Pike County Heart Association Heart Walk will be on Feb. 19 from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at Cattleman Park.

Everyone is invited to attend and support the continuing efforts to knock off heart disease as the number one killer of Americans today.